Floral bouquet packaging and display system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a flower bouquet packaging system in which a plurality of floral bouquets are packaged in a horizontal configuration within a shipping container. A display container receives stems of the flower bouquets. Each display container is positioned adjacent an end of the shipping container. In this configuration, flower portions of adjacent bouquets are adjacent or in contact with one another to provide a space saving relationship. Upon shipping of the floral bouquets, the display container can be removed from the shipping container and placed in an upright position to expeditiously display the floral bouquets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container system for packaging a plurality of flower bouquets during shipping in which the bouquets are placed in a space-saving relationship and can be expeditiously removed from the packaging and displayed.

2. Description of the Related Art

Containers for fresh cut flower arrangements are known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,572 discloses a package for shipping and storing articles such as a cut flower arrangement. A flower container includes a lower part adapted to receive the flower arrangement in a water-containing foam block. A formed in place non-absorbent foam block is dispersed in an upper portion to completely fill the container and support the flower arrangement in an upright position.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,363 describes a flower shipper comprising an inner container for supporting a flower grouping in an upright position. An outer container is sized to receive the inner container. Shippers are packed side by side with one side wall of the outer container in face-to-face contact with one side wall of the other shipper.

The above-described patents have the shortcoming of packaging the flower arrangements in an upright position which does not provide a space-saving relationship for multiple bouquets. In addition, the use of this type of packaging having the flowers in an upright position requires use of a specialized freight company for accommodating this type of packaging resulting in typically increased shipping costs.

It is desirable to provide a container system for packaging multiple bouquets in a space saving relationship in which the bouquets can be expeditiously removed from the container system and displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flower bouquet packaging system in which a plurality of floral bouquets are packaged in a horizontal configuration within a shipping container. A display container receives stems of the flower bouquets. Each display container is positioned horizontally adjacent an end of the shipping container. In this configuration, flower portions of adjacent bouquets are adjacent or in contact with one another to provide a space saving relationship. Upon shipping of the floral bouquets, the display container can be removed from the shipping container and placed in an upright position to expeditiously display the floral bouquets. The floral bouquets can comprise one or more groupings of fresh flowers having cut stems. A retaining means can be used for holding the display container within the shipping container. The packaging system can accommodate various lengths of flowers in appropriately sized display containers for shipping in a horizontal configuration.

The invention will be more fully described by reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the floral packaging and display system of the present invention in which the carton is in an open position.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of arrangement of the floral bouquets.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the floral packaging and display system of the present invention including an embodiment of a retaining means.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the floral packaging and display system of the present invention including an alternate embodiment of a retaining means.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the floral packaging and display system of the present invention including an alternate embodiment of a retaining means.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the floral packaging and displaying system in which the carton is in a closed position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of display of a floral bouquet upon removal of the floral bouquet from the packaging system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of floral bouquet packaging and display system 10 comprising shipping container 12. Shipping container 12 can have a rectangular shape with a length L₁ sufficient for housing a plurality of floral bouquets 14. Floral bouquets 14 are housed in a horizontal configuration within shipping container 12. Floral bouquets 14 can comprise one or more groupings of fresh flowers having cut stems. A plurality of bouquets 14 can be aligned with flower portions 15 a of first floral bouquet 14 a being adjacent to or in contact with flower portions 15 b of second floral bouquet 14 b for providing a space saving relationship within shipping container 12, as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, stems 16 of flower bouquets 14 are received and contained within display container 18. Bottom surface 19 of each display container 18 is positioned adjacent or in contact with end 21 of shipping container 12. Side surface 22 of display container 18 and/or lip 23 of display container 18 contacts inner surface 24 of shipping container 12. For example, two display containers can be housed within shipping container 12.

Display container 18 can be held in place within shipping container 12 with retaining means 25. Retaining means 25 can be coupled to or integral with shipping container 12. For example, retaining means 25 can be slot 26 in sidewall 27 of shipping container 12, as shown in FIG. 3. Slot 26 can have a length and size for receiving lip 23 of display container 18. In an alternate embodiment, retaining means 25 can comprise perforation 29 in sidewall 27 for receiving lip 23 of display container 18, as shown in FIG. 4. In an alternate embodiment, retaining means 25 can comprise protrusion 30 or latch for coupling lip 23 to display container 18, as shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, ventilation openings 32 can be formed in sidewall 27, sidewall 34 and sidewall 35 of shipping container 12 at position D₁ adjacent flower portions 15 of flower bouquets 14. Ventilation openings 32 provide ventilation to flower portions 15 contained within shipping container 12.

Shipping container 12 can be formed of corrugated cardboard or laminated paper or plastic materials. Shipping container 12 can be formed from a cardboard block by hand or by a cardboard forming machine. Display container 18 can be formed of molded plastic or polymeric materials. During shipping, a plurality of shipping containers 12 can be stacked flat upon one another in a space saving relationship within a freight carrier. Accordingly, a conventional freight carrier can be used for transportation of shipping containers 12.

Referring to FIG. 7, upon receiving of the floral bouquets at a desired destination, display container 18 can be removed from shipping container 12 and placed in an upright position for displaying floral bouquet 14. Display containers 18 can have a length L₃ determined to provide support for length L₂ of flower bouquets 14 during display of floral bouquets 18, as shown in FIG. 1. Length L₁ can be selected to correspond to a combined length of floral bouquets 14 received in display containers 18 which are placed adjacent to one another in a horizontal position.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A floral bouquet packaging and display system comprising: a plurality of display containers, each display container receiving stems of one or more floral bouquets; and a shipping container having a length of L₁ sufficient for housing said floral bouquets in a horizontal configuration in which a first of said display containers is positioned adjacent a first end of said shipping container and a second of said display containers is positioned adjacent a second end of said shipping container and flower portions of said one or more floral bouquets received in said first first display container being adjacent or in contact with flower portions of said one or more floral bouquets received in said second display container.
 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising: retaining means for retaining said display containers with said shipping container, said retaining means being coupled to or integral with said shipping container.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein said retaining means comprises a slot within said shipping container and a lip of one of said display containers is received in said slot.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises: a perforation in said shipping container and a lip of one of said display containers is received in said perforation.
 5. The system of claim 2 wherein said retaining means is a protrusion, said protrusion contacting a lip of one of said display containers.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein said floral bouquet comprises: one or more groupings of fresh flowers having cut stems.
 7. The system of claim 1 further comprising: one or more ventilation openings positioned in a sidewall of said shipping container adjacent said flower portions.
 8. The system of claim 1 further comprising: one or more ventilation openings in at least one sidewall of said shipping container, said ventilation openings being positioned adjacent said flower portions.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein a height of said display container is sufficient for displaying said floral bouquets in said upright position.
 10. A method for packaging and displaying a floral bouquet comprising: placing one or more floral bouquets in a plurality of display containers, each of said display containers receiving stems of said one or more floral bouquets; and placing said plurality of display containers in a shipping container, each of said display containers being placed on its side such that said one or more floral bouquets are in a horizontal position in which flower portions of adjacent said one or more floral bouquets are adjacent or in contact with one another and each of said display containers being positioned adjacent a respective end of said shipping container.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: selecting a length of said shipping container to correspond to a combined length of said one or more flower bouquets placed adjacent to one another in said horizontal position.
 12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: removing each of said display containers from said shipping container; and displaying each of said display containers in an upright position.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of: selecting a length of said display container sufficient for displaying said floral bouquets in said upright position.
 14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of: retaining said display container with said shipping container.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said retaining step comprises: a slot in said shipping container and a lip of one of said display containers is received in said slot.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein said retaining step comprises: a perforation in said shipping container and a lip of one of said display containers is received in said perforation.
 17. The method of claim 14 wherein said retaining step comprises: a protrusion, in said shipping container said protrusion contacting a lip of one of said display containers.
 18. The method of claim 10 wherein said floral bouquet comprises: one or more groupings of fresh flowers having cut stems.
 19. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of: providing one or more ventilation openings in at least one sidewall of said shipping container, said ventilation openings being positioned adjacent said flower portions. 